Nebraska Football: LB Nick Henrich out for Thursday’s game

There is a bit of injury news for Nebraska football, as they get set to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers Thursday night. Linebacker Nick Henrich and Jimari Butler will be out for Thursday’s game.

Henrich was a key part of the Nebraska defense last year. He recorded 37 tackles, including three tackles for a loss. He was battling injuries throughout the course of the season. The injuries finally reached a boiling point when he went down against Purdue with an ACL injury in October.

This injury leaves Nebraska without a veteran piece on the linebacker unit. This could be a problem for a defense, as they play against N experienced Minnesota offense.

Despite losing key running backs over the course of the offseason, Minnesota picked up one in the transfer portal in Sean Tyler. Tyler ran for 1,027 yards and seven touchdowns last season for Western Michigan.

Nebraska & Minnesota Availability Reports pic.twitter.com/HH9VItdWNX

— 247Huskers (@247Huskers) August 31, 2023

Butler also major loss for Nebraska football

Butler played in every game as a freshman in 2022. He recorded nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup.

This news is certainly not the best, as Nebraska football will have to rely on others to get the job done. Henrich is a veteran, and a player that has been an integral part of the defense over the years. Luke Reimer is a guy that could potentially make a big impact and he will he will need to do so with this injury news to both Henrich and Butler.

Either way, this is a tough news to hear. Nevertheless, Nebraska still has other defensive playmakers that can get the job done. Hopefully, both Henrich and Butler will be able to go in short order. The linebacker position is an integral part of the defensive unit, particularly in Tony  White’s scheme.